Electric heater or fumer



June 5, 1928. 1,671,974

L. E. AsKE ELECTRIC HEATER OR FUMER Filed June 19, 1924 M INVENTOR.

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A TTORNEYS.

Patented June 5, 1928.

QS'VUSNITED STATES LEONARD ASKE, 0F DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

ELECTRIC HEATER OR FUMER.

Application filed June 19,1924. Y Serial No. 720,994.

My invention relates to electric heaters, Vaporizers or fumers and has for its object the provision of an improved device of the type referred to, for converting hydro-carbon fuel into fumes for internalexplosion engines. With this and other objects in View, it consists of the structures, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is an end elevation, partly in central vertical section of one form of a fuel-mixture conduit, embodying my said invention. Fig. 2 is a top view of the hereinafter described heating element embodied in my said invention. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of said conduit, and Fig. 4: is a side elevation of said conduit.

In the drawings, 1 is a conduit for conducting air and hydrocarbon fuel from any suitable sources to the cylinder or cylinders of an internal explosion engine (not shown). Said conduit is provided with an air intake end 1; a mixing chamber 1 for mixing the air with hydrocarbon fuel, vapor or fumes, a discharge nozzle 1, adapted to be connected to the valve chamber, or intake port of an engine cylinder (not shown). Said conduit is also provided with a suitable fuel intake port 1 to which is connected a fuel supply pipe 2. Said conduit is further provided with-a heating chamber 3 having a fuel intake port 3 to which is connected a branch fuel supply pipe 2*, in which latter is preferably interposed a regulating or cutoff valve 2', of any suitable structure.

Within said heating chamber is positioned a heating element comprising a binding post 4 adapted to conduct electricity; a core 5 of suitable refractory insulating material, as porcelain, through which said post extends longitudinally; said core being reduced in external diameter for a portion of its length, as at 5*; a resistant conductor of electricity as a wire resistance coil 6 connected to said post and closely encircling said core; an

, insulation sleeve 7, of any suitable insulating material, as mica, encircling the enlarged portion of said coil and extending above the same; a metal case 8 encircling said sleeve; a metal contact thimble 9 encircling the portion of said coil at the reduced end of said core in contact with the reduced portion of said coil and spaced from-the side wall of said chamber; a filling plug of refractory cement 10 for the upper end of said sleeve,

plurality of carbon fuel supplied by said pipe 2 through said port 3*.

If desired, said mixing chamber may be primed through a port 14, adapted to be closed by a plug 15. One end of said post extends outwardly of said heating chamber and forms one terminal of said heating element, the other terminal of which is grounded on said chamber by said contact point.

The heating element is primarily designed for heating, vaporizing and fuming hydrocarbon fuel for starting the engine when the cylinders and adjacent parts are cold. The coil of the heating element is therefore preferably interposed in the motor circuit of an electric engine operating device, not shown, but well known to the art; or in a lighting circuit, not shown but well known to the art. It may however be in an independent circuit, and may be operated as long as desired before and after starting the engine.

In operation, when the engine is cranked or turned over, a partial vacuum is formed in said conduit, thereby causing air to be drawn into said mixing chamber through the air intake end of said conduit, and fuel oil to be drawn into said mixing and heating chambers through the pipes 2 and 2, respectively. The oil drawn into said heating chamber is drawn up through the coil space therein in contact with the highly heated electric coil and in contact with the heated porcelain core and the heated mica sleeve and is promptly converted by the heat into dense fumes which escape through the ports in said filler 10 into said mixing chamber, where it is mixed with air and drawn out into the engine cylinder or cylinders. After the cylinders and adjacent parts are well heated, the coil 6 may if desired be cut out of circuit, and the valve closed.

My said invention is especially desirable for vaporizing or fuming comparatively heavy fuel oils such as kerosene; but is also highly efficient in fuming gasoline.

' It'is obvious that my said invention may be modified or altered in various particulars Within the spirit and scope of my claim.

Whatlclaimisz The combination of a binding post adapt ed to conduct electricity; a core of refractory insulating material encircling s aidpost intermediate of its ends, said core beingrediiced in diameter at its lower end; a resistance'coil electrically connectedat one end Withsaid'post and woundclose'ly around saidcore'an'd grounded at its opposite end;

a sleeve of refractory insulating material a closely encircling the enlarged end of said revneve coil and extending above the same; a metal thimble closely encircling and in, Contact With the reduced end of said coil, said thimble'being o1": shorter external diameter than said insulating vsleeve; a metal sleeve encircling said insulating sleeve; a filling of refractoiym'aterial Within the portion of said sleeve above said core said filling having a plurality of ports therein; and means adapted to'conduct fluid to be heated to the coil space/between the enlarged portion of said core nd the" ins'iilation sleeve encircling the enlarged portion of said coil.

signature.

LEoriARD ASKE.

I testimony whereof I h'ei'eunto'aiiix my 

